(CNN) – President Barack Obama's re-election campaign and supporting committees brought in more than $114 million last month – the first time the incumbent has outraised his opponent, Gov. Mitt Romney, since April.

Obama’s Campaign Manager Jim Messina announced the figure for August late Sunday night.

soundoff(46 Responses)

Jay in NC

Wait, weren't we told last month that Gov. Romney was evil because he raised more money than poor little Obama. I am sure that the Liberals will spin this the other way now. Maybe they will say that Obama has evolved on the issue of fund raising.

September 10, 2012 at 8:20 am |

Brian MacCartney

Citizens United was decided on the "free speach" clause in the Constitution. I don't think "free" speach is so free anymore. You have to have millions of dollars to speak to the American people. My voice should carry as much weight as those donating millions of dollars, but it doesn't. They can buy a much bigger "town square" and stand on their soap box with a mega-megaphone. All I can do is write this and hope someone will read it. I am for free speach, for all Americans, not just the ones with lots of money they can use to buy it.

September 10, 2012 at 12:36 pm |

Howard

The Americans sending checks to Obama, are the half of America that does not pay taxes, lives on unemployment, welfare, and food stamps, and, is paid for by the half that's not supporting Obama.

September 10, 2012 at 8:56 pm |

IEK

What are you talking about? Who said he was evil because he out raised Obama. That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard. The fact that they both have to raise such huge amounts of money is a problem with our system, but it doesn't make either of them evil.

September 10, 2012 at 12:44 pm |

jean2009

What an uninformed twit.

September 10, 2012 at 1:07 pm |

Howard

Mortimer Zuckerman: Those Jobless Numbers Are Even Worse Than They Look

Don't be fooled by the headline unemployment number of 8.1% announced on Friday. The reason the number dropped to 8.1% from 8.3% in July was not because more jobs were created, but because more people quit looking for work.

The number for August reflects only people who have actively applied for a job in the past four weeks, either by interview or by filling an application form. But when the average period of unemployment is nearly 40 weeks, it is unrealistic to expect everyone who needs a job to keep seeking work consistently for months on end. You don't have to be lazy to recoil from the heartbreaking futility of knocking, week after week, on closed doors.

How many people are out of work but not counted as unemployed because they hadn't sought work in the past four weeks? Eight million. This is the sort of distressing number that turns up when you look beyond the headline number.

Here's another one: 96,000—that's how many new jobs were added last month, well short of the anemic 125,000 predicted by analysts, and dramatically less than the (still paltry) 139,000 the economy had been averaging in 2012.

The alarming numbers proliferate the deeper you look: 40.7% of the people counted as unemployed have been out of work for 27 weeks or more—that's 5.2 million "long-term" unemployed. Fewer Americans are at work today than in April 2000, even though the population since then has grown by 31 million.

We are still almost five million payrolls shy of where we were at the end of 2007, when the recession began. Think about that when you hear the Obama administration's talk of an economic recovery.

The key indicator of our employment health, in all the statistics, is what the government calls U-6. This is the number who have applied for work in the past six months and includes people who are involuntary part-time workers—government-speak for those individuals whose jobs have been cut back to two or three days a week.

September 10, 2012 at 1:32 pm |

mmad5camp

Sounds just like a Romney/Fox Republican, "Let's just say anything," eventually all will believe us. Because we are not Obama.".

September 10, 2012 at 1:23 pm |

Howard

Obama, and his corrupt administration, are the ones who are continually getting busted for lying, when video tape of their past statements contradicts their current lies. Obama will say or do ANYTHING to hold onto power.
Romney/Ryan 2012

September 10, 2012 at 8:59 pm |

Prosperid

@ Jay in NC

Clearly a dumb comment to start the morning. Anti-Obama folks have no substance or facts to their arguments.
When has Obama been against fundraising? This is campaign season. Now we all know about Super PACs..which
the candidates have no control over.

September 10, 2012 at 8:48 am |

Jay in NC

Obama said at a campaign event in Atlanta, Georgia on June 26,
"And because times are tough and because they are spending these ungodly sums, it's going to be close."

September 10, 2012 at 9:19 am |

Cynthia L.

So, just two guys, the Koch brothers are donating $400 Million Dollars to the Republicans but, you're okay with that?? What DO THOSE GUYS WANT?? They are betting they'll get their money back from Mitt in GOVERNMENT SUBSIDES FOR LIFE!! That's what they want. And, Jay in NC is helping them do it.

September 10, 2012 at 11:49 am |

Prosperid

He was speaking in terms of Karl Rove and Koch brother Super PACs....You really need to follow, listen, and understand what he's talking about. It's nearly the same speach from other events. Sometimes he don't call folks out and sometimes he shorten his statements...but it's he is speaking of Super PACs trying to buy the election. In which all the conservative Supreme Court judges approved.

September 10, 2012 at 11:50 am |

jean2009

Actually what the Koch Brothers want to do is not pay any taxes, not chip in their fair share for polluting the planet, or pay benefits or fair wages to their employees. Koch Industries is the 100 million ton carbon gorilla, they are considered the top polluter in the United States. They have paid millions in pollution fines. The Sierra Club even has a protest petition online. They funded putting Scott Walker in office primarily to break public and private unions. Look up the 1914 Ludlow massacre and you get an idea of what they would like to do. Greed has no bounds.

September 10, 2012 at 1:24 pm |

Howard

GM losing $49,000 on each Volt sold ... the power hungry, two bit community organizer,
is driving America into an economic ditch !!!

September 10, 2012 at 3:55 pm |

jean2009

Howard you are not the sharpest knife in the drawer.
Over the long term the Chevy Volt will make a lot of money. As with all new technology it takes time to break even on the investment in new technology. As with the Ford it has cost them about $500 million to develop the C-Max hybrids which means with the first dozen vehicles sold the cost could be calculated at a $41,666,667 each loss.

The Chevy Volt has won the 2009 Green Car Vision Award, the 2011 Green Car of the Year Award, the 2011 North American Car of the Year Award, the 2001 World Green Car of the Year Award, and the 2012 European Car of the Year Award.

The R & D for any new car for the first few is going to not be an accurate picture of what the profit with be over time.

Do I understand you as saying business should quit trying to improve product? With that attitude we would all still be driving a Model T.

@ Cynthia L. ...
The Koch brothers are sick of watching Obama, and his corrupt associates hijacking America, so they can turn it into the kind of corrupt country, millions of people have fled to America to escape from.

September 10, 2012 at 9:01 pm |

Jay in NC

You asked the question "When has Obama been against fundraising? " Well when he calls it ungodly, that is when.

September 10, 2012 at 12:34 pm |

IEK

He wasn't talking about fundraising for candidates. He was talking about Super-PACs being able to raise unlimited funds from corporations/billionaires to run their own ads separate from the campaigns of either candidate.

Both sides have Super-PACs that support them, and they're absolutely terrible for our democracy. That's who he's talking about raising ungodly amounts of money. Not Mitt Romney.

September 10, 2012 at 12:47 pm |

mmad5camp

Jay in NC

Obama said at a campaign event in Atlanta, Georgia on June 26,
"And because times are tough and because they are spending these ungodly sums, it's going to be close."

Jay, Before you answer comments regarding your own responses, please read them. It mean ungodly sums of money being spent, not opposed to fundraising.

September 10, 2012 at 1:27 pm |

Howard

President Obama is touting his foreign policy experience on the campaign trail, but startling new statistics suggest that national security has not necessarily been the personal priority the president makes it out to be. It turns out that more than half the time, the commander in chief does not attend his daily intelligence meeting.
President Obama’s schedule from the day he took office until mid-June 2012, to see how often he attended his Presidential Daily Brief (PDB) — the meeting at which he is briefed on the most critical intelligence threats to the country. During his first 1,225 days in office, Obama attended his PDB just 536 times — or 43.8 percent of the time. During 2011 and the first half of 2012, his attendance became even less frequent — falling to just over 38 percent.
By Marc A. Thiessen, Washington Post

September 10, 2012 at 1:47 pm |

jean2009

And we also know March Thiessen is the Washington Post's Right-wing delusional columnist with a ultra right-wing Teapotty blog.

September 10, 2012 at 2:03 pm |

jean2009

Sorry about the March- I mean Marc but my fingers were thinking about the Gestapo.

September 10, 2012 at 2:04 pm |

Howard

@ jean2009 ...
TYPICAL B.S. OBAMA STOOGE RESPONSE ...
If you don't like the message ... trash the messenger.
Just what you'd expect from one of Obama's 'Brown Shirt' thugs.

September 10, 2012 at 3:15 pm |

jean2009

Just like you love a source like the Huffington....right! You just don't like being called out for using a Right-wing writer as your source.

September 10, 2012 at 9:00 pm |

Roger

Just sent Obama some more $$$
Re-elect Obama and turn the House in 2012.

September 10, 2012 at 9:10 am |

Howard

@ Roger ...
I just sent $$$ to Romney& Ryan ...
and, I plan to send more soon !!!
Romney/Ryan 2012

September 10, 2012 at 3:17 pm |

miller

OBAMA

September 10, 2012 at 10:41 am |

Joe

The polls for this election should not even be close. Romney/Ryan won't even answer questions or state specifics about how they'll solve the country's problems. Tea Party Republicans have pledged allegiance to Grover Norquist, and not the United States of America. Romney is hiding money offshore and not paying taxes, which is totally un-American. Who the hell is Grover Norquist that anybody should pledge any allegiance to him? Get the heck out of here!. I cannot believe so many ignorant voters don't have the sense to see thru these Republican idiots. Best thing we can do is vote all Tea Party types out of office in November, starting with Allen West, Chaffetz, Sessions, Boehner, Cantor, McConnell, and several other clowns, Re-elect Obama and keep this nation on track. Any other outcome will send this country down a rat hole!!!

September 10, 2012 at 10:41 am |

Howard

@ Joe ...
Obama hasn't provided specifics of how he will fix the economy ... Obama won't take questions from the press ... Obama is usually not on the job ... and, now, even 4 years later, we still don't know very much about Obama. His promised transparent legislation has taken place behind closed doors ... he hid Fast & Furious ... he buried his college records ... getting his birth certificate took years, and was like pulling teeth ... he gets caught on an open mic telling the Russians he'll give in to their demands, after the election ... and, you fools want to reelect this two bit community organizer to another 4 years ???

September 10, 2012 at 9:08 pm |

Reason

Romney gets his money millions at a time by the same people complaining that Obama is bad for business. Really? Obama gets his at about $50 a pop from average working folks. Let's see rich people that complain about the economy yet have nearly unlimited funds to waste on Romney versus regular folks. Well if rich foks cared about me I would care about them but they don't so I won't.

September 10, 2012 at 10:46 am |

Howard

Where do these stats come from ... the Obama campaign ??? ... I don't trust these liars ... they've already been caught in so many lies ... many resulting from previous video tape, in which THEY contradicted themselves.

September 10, 2012 at 3:20 pm |

Judy

Us little guys don't have much but when we write a check or send our 3.00 or 5.00 bucks we really mean for it to count. Proud to support a president and party that works for the middle class,the elderly the poor gays ,women minorities. We are all in this togeather and we can move forward. Forward 2012 Obama/Biden

September 10, 2012 at 11:38 am |

Ray E. (Georgia)

It was reported that around 210,000 small business's closed over the last 2 years. Some will blame Bush but that doesn't compute. How long those business's take to come back or if they ever do depends on how the government acts. Obama has been steadfast in taxing all those that make over $200,000.00 or $250,000.00 If Obama is Re-Elected you can expect jobs to be stagnent and the economy to flounder. Those are the facts. Your choice.

September 10, 2012 at 12:17 pm |

mmad5camp

What about the more than 10 tax cuts that has been given to Small Business Owners? Why are no one talking about that?

September 10, 2012 at 1:29 pm |

jean2009

Did anyone notice the small business Pizza Shop owner a Republican who is voting again for Obama!

September 10, 2012 at 8:49 pm |

Howard

Oh Judy ... just like Barack and Michelle stated ... you poor Dems all started out in dire poverty ... barely able to feed your little pup Skippy ... walking through the snow to school each day ... weep weep !!!
WHAT A BUNCH OF BULL ... you actually represent the 1/2 of America that doesn't pay taxes. You cowardly, lying, freeloaders, sit back, complain, and demonize the other half of America, who busts their butts, 40 hours of every week, to pay your taxes, your welfare, your food stamps ... Government mandated pensions and raises based on tenure, plus union kickbacks. You and your fellow complainers are the Dregs of Society, who along with Obama, are destroying this great country.

September 10, 2012 at 3:30 pm |

jean2009

Honestly... Howard, I know you won't believe this but truth is truth... I was born 77 years ago in a log cabin. I came into this world knowing what a mess the GOP can make ot things.

September 10, 2012 at 8:53 pm |

Kool-Aid Police

I don't give money to any of them, I'd rather give to a worthwhile charity instead.

September 10, 2012 at 1:25 pm |

jean2009

From day one I have said the Rethugliklans do not want to repeal all of the Affordable Health Care Law, only those parts that will save the insured premium money, and the parts that will allow them in everyone's bedroom. Now Romney has basically admitted as much.

And Ray.....The fact that the Pizza shop owner that gave the President a bear-hug was not only a previous Republican and a small business owner was not lost on me. Also not lost on me is the fact that a great many small business owners are eagerly awaiting 2014 when they can buy into the health exchanges to bring down the cost of their own family insurance. Not every small business owner has family members without preexisting or major health problems. Been there and know that.

September 10, 2012 at 1:35 pm |

jean2009

Ray...you figure is off. When George W. Bush's 2007 Depression started on its downhill roll off the cliff and until everything hit bottom 107,000 small businesses failed. But on the bright note during that depression many new small businesses are being started by people who have been laid off and unable to find a job. Nearly 4 out of 5 new small businesses have no employees other than themselves and family members, and if you know them their health care and insurance costs can be a major reason why they can easily fail.

The only ones who have been steadfast in making sure those making $250,000 are being taxes at the current rates is the GOP which is using those small business people as hostage-shields to protect those with higher incomes from going up to a higher tax rate.

September 10, 2012 at 1:50 pm |

Ray E. (Georgia)

Unfortuntantly some like to blame Republician's for the 16 Trillion Plus now Federal debt. The Democrats had the Congress for 40 years. It was they, that put all the Big Social Programs in place. It was they that relaxed the Banking Regulations that caused the housing bubble. It was the housing bubble that sent the economy into a nosedive. But, i digress! It was the people that voted for it! So if people keep voting against their own best interests OK by me. Business will not hire as long as they don't know what they will have to contend with next year. I say let's go over that fiscal cliff. It is way past time for the people to see the cold hard facts of life. Tha's what people voted for. Happy landing!

September 10, 2012 at 3:43 pm |

jean2009

Actually it was the Gramm, Leach, Bliley Act that deregulated banking and caused the mortgage meltdown....the last I checked Gramm, Leach and Bliley were three Reprobates.

September 10, 2012 at 8:47 pm |

Howard

@ jean2009 ... you are a typical, predictable, ill mannered Obama stooge, who responds to ALL opposing discourse, with ugly insults. It's become obvious that you Obama stooges care nothing for the truth ... all you, and "Dear Leader", care about is holding onto power at ANY cost. When "Dear Leader" looses, all you bribed, free loading disciples, will have to actually work for a living, and actually pay taxes. The fear of this reality enables you to justify dirty, dishonest tactics ... ... and, say, or do ANYTHING, in order to win. The Hard working, responsible, patriotic, moral, Americans in this country look forward to "Dear Leader", and his corrupt followers getting kicked to the curb in November ... so, that America can get back to fixing all the damage you and Obama has done to this great country ... so, goodbye, and good riddance.

September 10, 2012 at 11:25 pm |

Ray E. (Georgia)

Have you looked at the Teacher Situatuon in Chicago. Another fine example of a roaring Economy. I rest my case.

September 10, 2012 at 3:48 pm |

DEcember 2012

WHAT ABOUT IT? WHAT DOES IT HAVE TO DO WITH THE ECONOMY? WOULD YOU CARE TO ELABORATE ON WHY IT SHOULD MATTER TO YOU BEFORE YOU POLITICIZE IT ANY FURTHER JUST LIKE YOUR REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES HAVE? UNLESS YOU HAVE SKIN IN THAT GAME, I SUGGEST YOU GET YOURSELF MORE INFORMED ON THE ISSUE BEFORE SPOUTING HALF BAKED COMMENTS.

Where do these numbers come from? The Obama campaign itself has been outraising the Romney campaign itself every month since early 2011. Yet those numbers don't add up anywhere near $100million for either candidate. If you add in the DNC and RNC numbers, they still don't add up to these numbers. Are they adding PACs and Super PACs? And if so, which ones. I want to know where these numbers come from. But either way, if they're adding in the national committees and/or PACs/SuperPACs, that's disingenuous, the candidates don't have direct control over those funds, and the national committees certainly aren't spending all that money on the presidential candidates.

September 11, 2012 at 8:40 am |

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